Tech Police

[Dawgfan71227]

That's how I want to spend my day.

Then park correctly...

[GatorDawg]

Then park correctly...

Or as I have learned in this thread...just don't get caught.

[nadB]

Or as I have learned in this thread...just don't get caught.

I've almost never gotten caught. Now, if I could just win the powerball ! ! !

[DocMarvin362]

I actually had a cop that was funny.

It was late, prolly 2am or so and I was coming back from a long night of StarCraft in the computer labs and got pulled over. His first question was (said with a sly smile) "Did you realize that speed limits are in effect 24 hours a day??" Then he asked me to choose my ticket. He says "Well I can give you a ticket like you would get off campus. It'll cost you about $150 and will get reported to your insurance company which will bump up your premiums..... OR.... I can give you a TECH ticket and it's $25 and doesn't get reported to your insurance; you just pay it and learn your lesson."

Since he put it that way, I didn't feel so bad paying my ticket. Hell it was almost $1 for each MPH over the speed limit I was going.

[skilldawg]

Great advice from skilldog if you were parked on a street governed under Title 32. However, you received a Tech ticket for a Tech parking rule, not a state law violation. So the state traffic and parking laws do not apply to your situation.

Sorry for the delay in responding. I haven't kept up with this thread.

I understand that TECH has their own parking code, just like a large number of governmental bodies throughout the State have their own local ordinances.

Typically, local ordinances or codes are simply renumbered and restated State statutes. Sometimes, local ordinances or codes also have items that are not provided for in the State Statutes.

Bottom line, there is a pretty hard and fast principle that the local bodies cannot pass ordinances that are more restrictive than the State Statute. If the state statute allows "standing" in certain circumstances, then the local authorities are going to have to allow it in the same circumstances.

Perhaps the State has provided special rules for its own subdivisions but the principle of providing clear definitions for the violations is going to stay the same.

I don't know if standing is ever appropriate in a handicapped zone, but I do know that TECH better have a definition of "parking" and "standing" in its code or alternatively have a catch all provision that reverts back to the State definitions.

We all think we know what "parking" is, but if its not defined then there can't be a violation.

As someone else suggested, maybe the reason that the fines are so low is because it encourages everyone cited to just pay it and be rid of the problem. But if anyone ever gets their panties in a big enough wad, and the code hasn't even bothered to define the violations, there will be a huge can of worms opened up.

[dawgtired]

I once parked in Dr. Reneau's parking spot... In hindsight, I realize this was wrong, since I didn't have a (mentally) handicapped sticker on my car.

Seriously, back to the OP. Dude, you were sitting still -- some call it parked -- in a handicapped parking spot. Aside from being illegal, it's just bad karma. Pay your ticket and move on.

Yes, cops --especially Tech police-- can be jerks. But that doesn't make you innocent of doing something against the law.

[Reckless Abandon]

I actually had a cop that was funny.

It was late, prolly 2am or so and I was coming back from a long night of StarCraft in the computer labs and got pulled over. His first question was (said with a sly smile) "Did you realize that speed limits are in effect 24 hours a day??" Then he asked me to choose my ticket. He says "Well I can give you a ticket like you would get off campus. It'll cost you about $150 and will get reported to your insurance company which will bump up your premiums..... OR.... I can give you a TECH ticket and it's $25 and doesn't get reported to your insurance; you just pay it and learn your lesson."

Since he put it that way, I didn't feel so bad paying my ticket. Hell it was almost $1 for each MPH over the speed limit I was going.

You are ".edu guy"

[Soonerdawg]

I once parked in Dr. Reneau's parking spot... In hindsight, I realize this was wrong, since I didn't have a (mentally) handicapped sticker on my car.

Seriously, back to the OP. Dude, you were sitting still -- some call it parked -- in a handicapped parking spot. Aside from being illegal, it's just bad karma. Pay your ticket and move on.

Yes, cops --especially Tech police-- can be jerks. But that doesn't make you innocent of doing something against the law.

I think of parked as being out of the car.

[Dawgfan71227]

I think of parked as being out of the car.

I feel like "parked" is a vehicle sitting in a parking space not moving, occupied or not. It certainly isn't moving, so it must be parked.

[Soonerdawg]

I feel like "parked" is a vehicle sitting in a parking space not moving, occupied or not. It certainly isn't moving, so it must be parked.

Show me the statute, because, as much as I respect you and your position as an officer (and if you know me, you would know I do), I really don't care what you "feel" is a parked car. It has to be defined before you can charge me with a crime. Second, I would hope that a person in your position would use common sense and courtesy when enforcing whatever laws are on the books. In fact, if you are who you I think you are, I think you do just that.

[GatorDawg]

I tried the suggestion of driving around the block while waiting. I drove slow and got stuck for a minute at a red light but I still managed to circle the block 4 times in the amount of time it took my girlfriend to go up to her apartment and come back down. It is inconvenient and a waste. I would much rather block traffic by just sitting there. Now that finals are over I should have a chance to call up and discuss this with someone on Tuesday. Luckily though it looks like summer will make it easier to find a parking spot.

Oh and what makes the person that stocks the vending machine so special he can park in a handicapped spot while restocking?

[Dawgfan71227]

Show me the statute, because, as much as I respect you and your position as an officer (and if you know me, you would know I do), I really don't care what you "feel" is a parked car. It has to be defined before you can charge me with a crime.

A parking ticket on the Tech campus is not a "crime". I can't arrest you for parking in a red zone. However, since it is a violation of the University Parking Regulations, I can write you a parking ticket. If I "Feel" a violation has occurred, I write a ticket. If I don't "feel' like it has I don't write it. Whether or not you care what I "feel' matters zero to me.

[tdog1985]

The Tech police do their jobs good when their jobs don't have to do with parking. My freshman year, my roommate and I lived in Hutchison and spent a lot of time at the Nat. During our LAST WEEK of school we went to the pool one day and came back to find our computers, ipods, cameras, and his room key gone. After finding out that it wasn't a prank, we reported the items stolen to the Tech police who came within 10 minutes and got our info and the info about our computers. Tech police actually worked with the Computing Center to track down our laptops using our IP addresses after the idiots logged on to the Tech server. This all happened within 4 or 5 days, during finals week.

After that I swore that I would ease up on my criticism of the Tech police. I did, until about a week ago.

I was riding my bike back across campus, heading back to my house from UP at about 11:30 pm and campus was pretty dead. I crossed over the railroad bridge (the one you walk over, not the one for cars) and looked both ways before crossing the walkway to make sure I wasn't jutting out in front of anyone. I saw a set of headlights coming from my right, about at the Memorial Gym parking lot, and another set of headlights to my left, far enough away that I could make it. Now, I am on a bike that is already moving, so I am traveling much faster than a pedestrian and I proceed to ride across the crosswalk, spending maybe 2 seconds tops in the street. I was at the GTM parking lot riding on the brick path when I see flashing lights and hear a siren behind me. To my surprise, I look behind me to see a LA Tech cop pulling me over, ON MY BIKE. He actually got out of his car and lectured me on how I should not be riding on the sidewalk and how he should give me a ticket. I just played dumb, even though I am very aware of Louisiana bicycle laws, and went on my way, still on the sidewalk just out of spite.

Good job Tech police, I liked you for almost 2 full years.

Actually, you weren't playing dumb!!! Bicycles are subject to traffic laws!!! You don't have the right of way in a crosswalk because that's what it's for -- cross WALK!!! You aren't supposed to ride on a sidewalk because that's what it's for -- side WALK!!! Don't believe me -- ask the idiot who got hit in front of Toliver during Fall quarter. He shot out into the crosswalk from the sidewalk and got nailed by a truck. The chief of Police and a detective from Ruston PD came out and ruled in favor of the truck -- because bikes are governed by traffic laws do not have the right of way in a crosswalk!!! And all you people who ride down the one way at Toliver the wrong way -- you're in the wrong also!!! Maybe everyone should pause and think about the fact that the police are trained enforcers of the law and not just joe blow of the street.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE POLICE --- NEXT TIME YOU GET ROBBED, ASSAULTED, RAPED, OR WRONGED --- CALL A CRACKHEAD INSTEAD!!!

[DocMarvin362]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE POLICE --- NEXT TIME YOU GET ROBBED, ASSAULTED, RAPED, OR WRONGED --- CALL A CRACKHEAD INSTEAD!!!

Maybe the crackhead would treat you better at least.

[Soonerdawg]

A parking ticket on the Tech campus is not a "crime". I can't arrest you for parking in a red zone. However, since it is a violation of the University Parking Regulations, I can write you a parking ticket. If I "Feel" a violation has occurred, I write a ticket. If I don't "feel' like it has I don't write it. Whether or not you care what I "feel' matters zero to me.

I beg to differ. A parking ticket is a summons for a crime. You can feel like writing me a ticket, but you can't feel like what you are writing a ticket for is a crime. By our consitution, the crime must be spelled out clearly enough that the accused knows what the crime is. Right now, nobody has shown me what "parking" is. Maybe all of these parking tickets Tech is making so much money on are all unconstitutional.